Mt Carmel Catholic School to get its first playground
Recipient of Alexandra's Playground 20th donated play space
At Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Catholic School, its recreation, summer and after school programs are just as important as its academic offerings.
The K-8 school’s basketball program is legendary and its after school All-Stars offerings helps keep students engaged with a lineup of Robotics class to Capoeira – a Brazilian martial arts. Students can participate in everything from playing in a rock band to exploring marine science. They’ve conducted energy audits, designed rollercoasters, and learned the science behind superheroes.
“A school is a vital component of the community structure where not only academic achievement is stressed [but] connected to a community that strives to improve the social, emotional, and overall wellbeing of every family member,” said Director of Advancement Robert Baroska, who heads the Monmouth/Ocean Parochial Basketball League.
Founded in 1923, Mt. Carmel has been lacking the one thing found at most schools – a playground.
In June, the First Avenue School will ask the community to join them in constructing a playground, made possible by the Alexandra’s Playground nonprofit, based in Irvington, New York.
“We are very fortunate to be one of three schools in US and two overseas to have a playground put in [this year],” Baroska announced during a recent luncheon held to thank members of the community for their ongoing support.
The school’s parking lot will transform into a play space, complete with slide and climb playground and picnic benches.
Founded in 2009, Alexandra’s Playground’s goal to provide children with safe and active play space is based on studies that show children who engage in active play grow up more physically, emotionally, and cognitively healthy.
“It’s evident what an amazing community they have here,” Alexandra’s Playground Executive Director Lori Hrbek said. “Mt. Carmel will be the recipient of our 20th playground. It will represent more than just a playground being built here, but will represent a playground being built by the community.”
Hrbek said 100 volunteers, community and professional installers, work together to install the playground on June 4. Fundraisers will be held to cover the costs of constructing new fencing, picnic tables and benches.
Mt. Carmel has an enrollment of close to 220 students. When it opened, the school was primarily comprised of Italian immigrants’ children. During the 2004-2005 there were only 124 students and the school was at great risk of being closed. Today the student body consists of Italian American, African American, Haitian and a 70% Hispanic population.
Because many of the students reside in the city’s economically challenged neighborhoods, 90% of student body are recipients of a free or reduced lunch program.
“We started an adopt-a-student program this year,” Baroska said. “Ninety percent of our students are on free and reduce lunches, this means under federal guidelines of poverty, they fall below that. It’s quite a challenge for parents to have their children not only attend a faith-based school but also just to survive each day. We do our best to meet their needs and no child is turned away.”
The adopt-a-student program allows members of the community to fund a child’s education by supporting either full, half or partial tuition rates. The benefactor receives updates of their adopted student’s progress throughout the year, Baroska said.
Tuition remains minimal and is collected on a sliding scale basis.
The $300,000 in tuition collected annually equates to less than half of the school’s operating budget. Assistance comes from their many benefactors, Diocesan tuition and budgetary assistance, as well as fundraising efforts.
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